A MOTORIST accused of killing a North-East teacher in a head-on car crash has been found not guilty.

Christopher Hornsey was standing trial at Teesside Crown Court accused of causing the death of Jennifer Askew, 54, by dangerous driving.

The jury of seven men and five women found him not guilty yesterday but convicted him of the lesser charge of careless driving.

Judge Les Spittle said it had been a distressing and difficult case but he could only sentence Hornsey on the charge of which he had been found guilty.

He said: "It is a measure of your driving. It nothing to do with the consequences."

He fined him £500 and gave him six penalty points.

Mrs Askew, a teacher at Staindrop Comprehensive School, County Durham, died after Hornsey's Peugeot 306 crashed head on into her Ford Fiesta, on the C18A road between Howden-le-Wear and Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, on March 7, last year.

He admitted he had made an unnecessary manouevre when trying to overtake two other vehicles.

Judge Spittle said it was a momentary lapse of judgment.

Mrs Askew's family said last night they were deeply disappointed by the sentence.

In a statement they said: "What for Hornsey may have been a momentary lapse of judgement has effectively delivered a life sentence for us.

"While no conviction and no sentence can ever bring Jennifer back, a £500 fine and six points on his licence sends the wrong message to motorists who endanger lives."

Hornsey, of Holy House, Witton-le-Wear, was disqualified from driving for six months because he already had six penalty points on his licence for a speeding offence.